Q: Why won’t my veterinarian dispense more antibiotics without examining my cat? She has the same skin infection that she had in the spring and the medication worked then. I would rather try the medication first before spending the time or money for a repeat visit.

Jun 26, 2018

Q: Why won’t my veterinarian dispense more antibiotics without examining my cat? She has the same skin infection that she had in the spring and the medication worked then. I would rather try the medication first before spending the time or money for a repeat visit.

A: Proper antibiotic selection and use is a very important topic. These medications are legally restricted to prescription use for good reasons. Among them is antibiotic resistance. When bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic it becomes more dangerous to your pet and your family. Veterinarians and physicians can attest that antibiotic resistance is becoming quite common. A major cause of this phenomenon is the improper use of medications.

Sometimes an antibiotic will improve a condition without curing it. Other times, it will appear that the condition has been cured, but it will return. In both these cases the risk for antibiotic resistance is increased. Your veterinarian needs to accurately diagnose your pet’s condition before prescribing the proper treatment. Once the proper medication is chosen, it is important to finish the entire course.

Please do not start antibiotic therapy, or any medical therapy, without speaking with your veterinarian first. It is frustrating to have symptoms obscured and necessary tests invalidated by a well-meaning pet owner who starts medication before calling the doctor. Frequently medications given by pet owners limit the ability of veterinarians to prescribe the best possible medication due to drug interactions. This situation causes needless suffering for pets, potentially leads to drug resistance, and often causes medical bills to be higher than they should have been.

Most veterinarians offer phone consultations free of charge to regular clients. Some offer this service 24 hours a day. Please pick up the phone before giving your pet a medication, even if you think you are dealing with the same condition for which a drug was previously recommended. Your veterinarian may recommend a refill of a previous prescription or administration of an over-the-counter therapy. Other times, an examination may be requested. If so, you have probably chosen a very competent and concerned doctor who wants to do the best thing for your pet.